Compucare Computer Services

New training available!

Presenting Scambusters Training by Compucare of Kingston This is how I bring South Shore Scambusters to the real world—one laser pass at a time. From bottom to top, the card reveals my mission: scam prevention, te...

Just posted a behind‑the‑scenes look at how I make some of my Scambusters business cards — now learn what’s behind the mission.
Scambusters Training from Compucare helps you recognize scams and protect your information.
Call or visit scambusters.compucarepc.com to book a session with Allan.

Presenting Scambusters Training by Compucare of Kingston This is how I bring South Shore Scambusters to the real world—one laser pass at a time. From bottom to top, the card reveals my mission: scam prevention, te...

Staying safe online is getting harder every year – especially for seniors and families who are constantly targeted by scammers.

Over the past few years I’ve spent more and more of my time helping clients clean up after fraud attempts, fake tech support calls, and phishing scams. It’s become clear that prevention and education are just as important as fixing computers.

That’s why I’ve launched a separate project:

👉 Scambusters MA – focused entirely on
education, scam awareness, and one‑on‑one “Scambuster Sessions.”

On Scambusters MA I’ll be sharing:

Plain‑English explanations of the latest scams
Step‑by‑step “what to do if…” guides
Tips for seniors, caregivers, and small businesses
Options for private sessions (in person, Zoom, or remote access)
If you follow this Compucare page for computer help, I’d really appreciate it if you’d also like and follow the new page here:
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/ScambustersMA

And just so it’s clear:

I provide educational and advisory services to help reduce the risk of scams and fraud. I do not provide financial, legal, tax, or investment advice and I am not acting as a financial advisor or investment professional.

Thanks for sticking with me as I slowly transition into more education and scam‑prevention work. This is work I care a lot about, and I think it’s going to help a lot of people.

— Allan

Scambusters by Compucare of Kingston MA Practical, local scam warnings and tech safety tips from Allan at Compucare in Kingston, MA.
I help seniors and small businesses recover from scams, secure their computers, and learn how to stay safe online – without the jargon.
Visit compucarepc.com

If you don't answer unknown calls, you won't need to worry.

If You Suspect You Are On A Scam Call, Do NOT Say This 1 Word You can easily get trapped if you are not careful. Here’s what to know.

Staying Safe from Phone Scams: 4 Clues to Watch For

Scammers are getting clever, but you can stay in control by knowing their tricks. Here are four clues that a phone call might be a scam, based on advice from security experts.

Clue #1: The Number is Unknown.
The single best defense is to not answer calls from numbers you don't recognize. If the call is important, the person will leave a voicemail. Save all your family, friends, and doctors as contacts so you know when a call is legitimate.
Clue #2: The "One Ring" Trick.
Scammers will sometimes call and hang up after just one ring. They do this for two reasons: to see if your phone number is active, or to make you curious enough to call them back. Never call back a number you don't know. It's safer to just block the number.
Clue #3: The Number Looks Local (But Isn't).
A common trick called "spoofing" allows scammers to disguise their real number and make it look like it's coming from your local area code. They do this because they know you're more likely to answer a familiar-looking number. Be suspicious even of local numbers if you don't recognize them.
Clue #4: They Create Panic or Urgency.
Scammers will often try to make you feel panicked so you act without thinking. They might say your bank account is in trouble or that you need to act immediately. Real banks will not pressure you like this.
The Golden Rule: If You Do Answer, Say Nothing.

Sometimes you might answer an unknown call by mistake. If you do, the best tactic is to say nothing at all. Wait to see what the person on the other end says. Often, it's a robocall that will hang up if it doesn't hear a voice. This also prevents them from recording your voice (especially you saying "yes"), which can be used in other scams.

New Research: 140% Increase in Callback Phishing
Researchers at Trustwave observed a 140% increase in callback phishing attacks between July and September 2024.
Callback phishing is a social engineering tactic that involves emails and phone calls to trick users into handing over login credentials or other sensitive data or installing malware.
The attacks begin with a phishing email that appears to be a notification for something that needs to be addressed urgently, such as an order invoice or an account termination notice.
The emails contain a phone number that the user can call to resolve the issue. If a user calls this number, the scammer will pose as a customer service agent in order to achieve one or more of the following goals:
"Vishing: Attackers will interrogate the victim for their personally identifiable information (PII), banking credentials, and other relevant details.
Malware Download and Infection: In some campaigns including BazarCall, victims are instructed to visit a website that will directly download malware, such as a document with malicious macros. Attackers will guide them through the installation process. The infected machine is used for stealing information, reconnaissance and installing follow-up malware.
Remote Access Control: To settle the issue, the attackers will instruct the victim to download a remote administration tool and invite them to a meeting session. Once the victim is connected, attackers will take control of their machine via remote access.
In some campaigns, such as Luna Moth, attackers blank out the screen to hide their actions. They will then proceed to steal information or install another malware for further exploitation."
The researchers note that getting the victim on the phone gives the scammer more control over the situation than simply communicating via email. "A phone call provides real-time and dynamic communication between the victim and fraudsters.
"In a direct conversation, attackers can continue to manipulate and dispel hesitations," Trustwave says. "The attacker often emphasizes the urgency of the matter, which might influence the victim into making a rash decision, such as divulging sensitive information."
KnowBe4 empowers your workforce to make smarter security decisions every day. Over 70,000 organizations worldwide trust the KnowBe4 platform to strengthen their security culture and reduce human risk.
Blog post with links:
https://blog.knowbe4.com/callback-phishing-is-on-the-rise

Save your money. Don't answer your phone unless you know who is calling.

‘Say nothing’ if you receive bank-emptying phone call – four clues CYBERSECURITY experts have warned about scam phone calls meant to steal your money. The constant barrage of unknown numbers ringing your phone can be frustrating and intrusive. While the urge to an…

Here's an obvious fraud. However, you would be surprised how many people fall for this "phishing" scam. The most glaring fake parts is the bad grammar and the phone numbers are pasted in.

Scammers Are Targeting Older Adults in a Costly New Way, FBI Warns The FBI has released a new public service announcement, warning older adults about a rising scam involving shipping companies.

It's wild out there, don't be a victim!

Scammers Are Targeting Older Adults in a Costly New Way, FBI Warns The FBI has released a new public service announcement, warning older adults about a rising scam involving shipping companies.

Just remember, your bank or your financial institution is not going to contact you in that manner.

FBI warns all Gmail and Outlook users of nightmare email that empties your bank THE FBI is warning email users over a dangerous type of scam. Victims can find themselves in serious trouble with their employers – or have their own bank accounts plundered. It’s called the …

💯 scam

If your bank texts you to warn you of a fraudulent charge, that's likely a scammer, FTC warns Scammers are creating such realistic bank fraud warning texts, that they've milked unwitting consumers out of $330 million in 2022, FTC warns.